Hard-luck cabbie John Winger, directionless after being fired from his job and dumped by his girlfriend, enlists in the U.S. Army with his close pal, Russell Ziskey. After his barely satisfactory performance in basic training, the irreverent Winger emerges as the figurehead for a ragtag band of misfits. However, his hijinks threaten to cause an international scandal when he inadvertently commandeers a military assault vehicle behind enemy lines.
Acting
Murray and Ramis improvising their entire friendship on screen.
Writing
The EM-50 plot somehow works despite making zero sense.
Practical Effects
Real Czechoslovakia locations that nearly got them arrested.
Director
Ivan Reitman
Bill Murray
John Winger
Harold Ramis
Russell Ziskey
Warren Oates
Sgt. Hulka
P. J. Soles
Stella Hansen
Sean Young
Louise Cooper
John Candy
Dewey "Ox" Oxberger
John Larroquette
Capt. Stillman
John Voldstad
Stillman's Aid
John Diehl
Cruiser
Lance LeGault
Col. Glass
Roberta Leighton
Anita
Conrad Dunn
Francis "Psycho" Soyer
Judge Reinhold
Elmo
Antone Pagán
Hector
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Czech army mistook the film crew for actual invaders and surrounded them with tanks until Reitman produced permits.
Murray's 'we're all very different people' speech was improvised after Reitman told him to just 'say something to make them a unit.'
US
